The world of short-term rental can be intimidating for someone who has never hosted before. We’ve compiled a list of tips and tricks to help you get started and make sure your transition into hosting goes smoothly.
- Don’t sweat the small stuff
You might not be able to get everything perfect right when you start out, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Don’t panic if you can’t get exactly the bed linens you want or if your plates don’t all match. You obviously want your home to look as presentable as possible, but don’t forget that setting up your space is supposed to be fun for you too—not overly stressful.
- Show your guests you care in little ways
Your guests will appreciate when you go the extra mile to make sure their stay goes well. When we say “little ways,” we mean little—nothing too expensive or time consuming. Check out [https://effortlessrentalgroup.com/hosting-tips/6-simple-items-add-home-happy-guests/] for a list of simple items you can add to your home to show your guests that you care, making them more likely to write you a good review at the end of their stay.
- Inform your neighbors
People will take note when there are strangers suddenly walking in and out of your house, so it’s a good idea to let them know that you’ll be hosting. It’s up to you how much detail you go into—maybe you tell them you’re a host on Airbnb or maybe you just say that you’ll have guests staying for a while—but a little heads-up is a good call regardless.
- Respond to your reviews
This goes for positive and negative reviews, especially your first few of each. For positive reviews, thank your guests for staying with you and tell them you’re glad they enjoyed their stay. For negative reviews, try to target their main problem and (politely) address whether it was out of your hands or not. Even if the issue was not your fault, apologize for the inconvenience. The idea is to set a precedent for the rest of your reviewers. When potential guests see that you’ve taken the time to respond to feedback, they’ll feel like they’re in good hands when they stay with you in the future.